APSRTC to Ply Buses Run by Batteries

For people preoccupied by ecological consideration and, above all by less smoke and less dust, a positive step taken by the state run RTC is that it is going to ply pollution free buses that use battery as their driving energy.

The company is planning to launch a non-air conditioned bus on experimental basis. The bus costing Rs. one crore, is to be imported from China runs by rechargeable batteries. It can cover a maximum of 200 km by one recharge. Gear-less, the bus can carry 46 people. If the operation is found successful in the city, more buses are to be imported. The Union government is going to offer a 50% subsidy for the proposal.

As things stand now, the finances of the APSRTC are not sound. The company bears Rs 2000 crores for providing fuel. Further, the company is under losses worth Rs 2700 crores because of diverse reasons.

The new proposal for battery run buses is thought to help the company improve its finances because it would economize cost of fuel.+